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SINGAPORE STATISTICS- 1 out of 4 people in Singapore are migrant workers64
- 187,900 migrant workers are on Employment Pass, 178,600 are on S Pass, 997,100 are on work permit, with 231,500 working as domestic workers and 326,000 in construction65
SINGAPORE CHALLENGELow-skilled migrant workers make up nearly 20% of the population in Singapore; most of them from India, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines. Their work is often labour-intensive and compensation is less than modest. To secure a job in Singapore, they often have to pay high agency fees. It is estimated that a foreign domestic worker takes up to 6 months out of a 2-year contract to pay off her debt to an agency, whereas a construction worker may take up to 18 months.
Migrant workers are not only exploited through low wages, which may be further reduced due to illegal deductions by employers, they also struggle with long working hours with no rest days and poor accommodation.
These workers also lack the bargaining power to negotiate with their employers, as current employment laws are inadequate in offering them protection. More often than not, migrant workers are silenced by the risk of force repatriation and unpaid salaries.
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GLOBAL STATISTICSInternational migration
- There are 244 million international migrants worldwide, making up more than 3% of global population54
- Migrants from developing countries contributing to an estimated US$436 billion remittances, exceeding development assistance and foreign direct investments (excluding China)55.
Forced displacement
- Due to violent conflict, 65.3 million people have been forcibly displaced. This equates to 34,000 people being displaced every day. These are the highest levels of displacement on record56.
- Among them, 21.3 million are refugees, with more than 50% under the age of 1857.
- There are also 10 million people who are stateless58. They are denied citizenship and basic rights – including access to healthcare, education, employment and freedom to observe their own religion – and their movements severely restricted.
Human trafficking
- More than 21 million people are “trapped in jobs into which they were coerced or deceived”59
- Human trafficking generates more than US$150 billion annually
- 79% of those trafficked are forced to work in the sex industry, most of them are women and girls60
- Forced labour makes up the second largest group of those trafficked (18%)61
GLOBAL CHALLENGEInternational migration lies at the core of globalisation. Women, men and children leave their homes – sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not – to escape poverty, inequalities, discrimination and the effects of climate change. While seeking a better life, what they find is often starkly different.
Despite the many benefits of migration, migrants remain the most vulnerable group of minorities in society. They often work for less pay, longer hours and worse conditions than national workers.
Human trafficking is also one of the most difficult issues to tackle due to its complexity and linkages with labour flows, globalization and migration. Due to the nature of organised crime, it is challenging to investigate and identify traffickers. Victims are also reluctant to participate in the process, for fear of retribution from the traffickers. Aside from prosecuting traffickers, protection and reintegration of victims is critical in addressing the issue.
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY
Securing fairly paid work is crucial to help individuals escape poverty. On a macro level, the taxes generated allow governments to pay for public services such as healthcare and education. UN SDG 8 is about creating decent work for everyone and achieving an annual economic growth of at least 7% in the poorest countries62.
Violent conflict has an adverse effect on the country’s economic development and growth. These places also breed opportunities for crime and exploitation. UN SDG 10 & 16 promotes taking measures and adoption of sound policies to protect these vulnerable groups, regardless of sex, race or ethnicity63
